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Palm Coast
Sunday, Jun. 3, 2018
8 months ago

Flagler deputy driving in DUI patrol car arrests drunk driver

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Deputies finally made contact with Thomas Wedell, 23, in a wooded lot near Underwood Trail. Two bottles of Fireball Whisky and one crushed Bud Light beer can were seen on the passenger floorboard of the vehicle.

A deputy driving the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s taxi-patrol car was able to arrest a drunk driver on Saturday, June 2, according to a news release by the FCSO.

Deputy David Lichty was driving the patrol car when he noticed a vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lane on Seminole Woods Boulevard in Palm Coast. After Lichty turned on the emergency lights and sirens, the vehicle continued to drive recklessly, exceeded speeds of 84 miles per hour and did not stop for law enforcement.

Deputies finally made contact with Thomas Wedell, 23, in a wooded lot near Underwood Trail. Two bottles of Fireball Whisky and one crushed Bud Light beer can were seen on the passenger floorboard of the vehicle.

Wedell appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and was given field sobriety exercises. He was then placed under arrest for driving under the influence. A search of his vehicle revealed 7.8 grams of cannabis and a bottle of Trazodone pills.

Wedell was also charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement, possession of cannabis under 20 grams, possession of a legend drug without prescription and reckless driving. He was taken to the Flagler County Detention Facility, where he refused to provide a breath sample. His bond was set at $4,000.

“He’s very lucky that no one was injured during his drunken joy ride,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a release. “Several members of the neighborhood were put in harm’s way by this drunk driver, and they then helped deputies locate him once he tried to hide in the woods. I hope his ride to the Green Roof Inn with the taxi light on was a wake-up call to choose a sober ride next time.”